Combination electric switch lock



March 23 1926. 1,577,803

' M. C. LEVINSON COIBINTION ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK gilad'i'eb. 21, 1924 2Shuts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. NHL/RICE 6T Lawn/son! ATTORNEY.

March 23 1926.

M. C. LEVINSON COMBINATION ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK Filed Feb. 21, 1924 2sweets-sum a I M n.

, ,mmyrox. Naumcz: 6T Lawn/son.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 2:5;1926.

UNH'EED stares 1,577,803 rarer-r QFEEQE.

MAURICE G. LEVINSON, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA,. ASSEGNOR AUTO THEFTALARM CORPORATION, A OOREORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

COMBINATION ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK.

Application filed February 21, 1924. Serial No. 684,307.

Ton?! whom may concern:

lie 1; known that I, Miiunrcn C. LnvINsoN,

a U a a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, res1d-,

ing at Long Beach, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of California,have in.- vented a new and useful Combination Electric Switch Look, ofwhich the following is a specification. T i

This invention relates to an improved form of switch lock especiallyadapted to be used in connection with auto vehicles.

An important object is to provide a switch lock operated by a secretcombination that will effectually control the ignition and signalcircuits of an auto vehicle, to prevent its unauthorized use.

A further object is to provide a switching device of the disk tumblertype that is practically noiseless in operation, thereby rendering itextremely difficult for an unauthorized person to effect an operationofthe lock to close an electrical circuit.

A still further object is to' provide a switching device in which theenclosing case is so constructed that it will effectually prevent anunauthorized manipulation of the switching mechanism disposed therein.

Briefly the invention herein described consists of a combination lockand switching mechanism adapted to be mounted upon the outer face of anautomobile instrument board in order that the driver of the vehicle mayconveniently manipulate the same. The casing of the lock is preferablycylindrical in form having a removable back plate attached to the casingin such manner as to prevent unauthorized tampering with the mechanismdisposed therein. Rotatively mounted in a bearing on the front faceof'the casing is a knob actuated stem, carrying a circular dial providedwithsuit able markings, and co-acting with an indi cating mark on thecasing face in order that the operating combination of the lock may bereadily found by a person familiar with the combination.

Mountedwithin the circular casing is a thin met al' enclosing casinginsulated there from and disposed on its bottom wall are a pair ofspring switches connected bycircuit line wires to the horn and ignitioncircuits of the vehicle. Disposed on the knob actuated stem within thecasing are a plurality of lock tumblers adapted to actuate a doubleended switch arm to close the switches when the tumblershave beenrotated to the proper combination, a main tumbler having a cam edgeengaging and moving the arm radially to close one or the other of theswitches. One of the switches I is connected in circuit with the signalhorn reference being had to the drawings accoinpanying the same inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the switching device showing the variousoperating parts disconnected'and disposed in assemblin'g relation.

Fig. 2 is an electrical diagram of the ignition and signalling circuitsof an auto vehicle showing the-method of connecting the switching devicein the circuits.

Fig. .8 is a. face view of the switch device.

Fig. 4: is a side elevation of the device showing a method of mountingthe same on'an auto vehicle. I

Fig. 5 is a central vertical section taken on line 55 of Fig. 6.

Fig; 6 is a transverse line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective viewof the vehicle hood cover switch.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectionof section taken .on

the tumbler and switch operating mecha-- forms an annular flange 12 thatengages the outer face of a vehicle instrument board 1- when the switchdevice is mounted there- The circuit controlling switches and thetumbler mechanism for operating the same are mounted within a circularmetallic case or dru1n'15, provided with heads 16, 17, the interior andexterior surfaces of the drum 15 being covered with an insulatingmaterial 18, such as fibre. Head 16 is provided with a centrallydisposed aperture 19 for the passage of the circuit line wires leadingfrom the switches. In this construction I have shown an ignition switch30, and a horn signal switch 21, the signal switch being normally closedwhen the vehicle is not in operation and open when the ignition switchis closed. It will be understood that the opening or closing of the hornsignal switch has no effect on the usual manually operated-switchconnected to the horn signal. I

Horn signal switch 21, consists of a flat spring member 22, segmental inform and rigidly secured in position on a flat circular base 23 by meansof a metal tongue 24 projecting from theinner face of the base, thetongue passing through a slot formed in the end of the switch member,and the insulatthe switch member end. The free endof the spring member22 is provided with a downwardly extending end portion 27 that normallycontacts with the other switch member. Switch member 28 is similar tomember 22, its free end being turned upwardly and normally restingagainst switch member 22, its other end being secured to the head 17 andinsulated therefrom in the same manner as switch member 22. Ignitionswitch 30 is also similar'to the horn signal switchconstruction, andconsists of a metallie spring member 31, one end 32 being secured toatonguc cut from the base 23and insulated therefrom, while the othermember 33 is secured to the base 23 in the same manner as member 31, thetwo members being normally out of contact with each other as clearlyshown in Fig. 6 of the drawings when the vehicle is not in operation.

The switch operating and locking mechanisms preferably consist of aplurality of flat-circular disk tumblers 35, 36, 37, loosely mounted onthe inwardly extending stud bearing, washers 38, 39, 10, rigidly securedon the stud bearing between the tumblers serving to maintain thetumblers in spaced relation, and also to prevent a shifting movementalong the bearings during their rotation. The main operating tumbler 37is rigidly secured on the shouldered inner endof stud 6, and the switchactuating arm or lever 41 is loosely disposed thereon, the

111g washers 26 secured on either side of switch actuating arm or leverbeing held against longitudinal movement by a disk 42 rigidly secured tothe free end of the operating stud. Tumblers35, 36, are each provided ontheir peripheral edges with slots 13, 44., and main tumbler 37 is alsoprovided with a slot 15, one of the side walls 16 of the slot beingcurved to form a cam surface for actuating the switch actuating arm 11as will be more fully described hereinafter.

'Tipnbler disk 35 is provided on one of its faces with an npstandinglug50, and disk 36 is provided with a pair of similar upstanding lugs 51,52, a lug extending from each of the disk faces, while main operatingtumbler 37 has a single lug 53, the lugs of the disks are adapted toengage with each other on a rotation to align the slots of the tumblersas shown in Fig. 8, so that the switch actuating arm 41 may be operated.The switch arm 41 is provided with a slot 5st to fit slidably upon theshouldered end of stud 6. This arm is provided adjacent one end thereofwith a pin 55, adapted to regis ter with the slots of the tumblers andmain tumbler when the proper combination is worked, or to ride upon theperipheral edges of the tumblers when the slots of the tumblers are outof registration.

hen the switching and lock operating mechanisms are mounted within thecase 5, a circular closure plate 56 having a centrally disposed aperturefor the passage therethrough of the circuit wires, is adjusted inposition. This plate 56 is provided on its edge with an annular groove57, which regis lot) ters when the plate is in position with a likegroove 58 formed on the inner circular wall of the enclosing case, acorrugated spring ring being mounted in the grooves to provide against aremoval of the closure plate when the switching device is assembled. Theinner edge of the centrally disposed aperture in the closure plate hasan annular depression 61 therearound that is swivelly engaged by therounded end 62 of an exteriorly threaded, adjusting tube 63, adapted toengage the interiorly threaded end of a steel tube -64: in which isdisposed the wires leading from the switching device to horn signal andignition coil. The free end of the wire conducting tube 64 passesthrough an aperture formed in the transverse front wall of the vehiclebody. By adjustably securing the tubes together it will be possible toadjust the same to various makes of vehicles, in which the distance fromthe instrumentboards and the front body'wallsvary. As the outer end ofthe tube 64: is flanged as well as the switch case it will be seen thatwhen the tubes are screwed together the switch device will be rigidlyheld in position on the instrument board.

iii

lVhen the switch device is in a locked position, one end 70 of theswitch actuating arm 4L1 contacts with spring switch member 26 and holdsthe same into engagement with switch member 22 to close the circuitthrough the horn signal, the ignition switch 30 being normally openuntil the device is operated by apredetermined combination.

Presupposing the parts to be in the position as indicated in full linesin Fig. (3, with horn signal switch closed, and'it "desired to close theignition switch 30 to enable an operation of the vehicle engine. 'loaccomplish this, that is to cause the end 71 of the switch actuating arm41 to assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the knob 10is actuated to bring all of the slots of the respective tumblers intoregistration,

at which time the spring member 28 of the horn signal switch 21 willslide the actuating arm 41 downwardly, the pin entering theslots of thetumblers. On a'further rotation of theknob 10 to the right the verticalside walls of the slots will rotate the arm 41 mtp engagement with astop 7 formed on the inner face ofthe base plate. hen in this positionthe horn signal switch will be open and the end 71 of the actuating armwill force the spring member 31 of the ignition switch 30 intoengagement with the spring member 3-3 to close the circuit through theignition coil. When it is desired to open the ignition switch and closethe horn signal switch the knob 10 is retated to the left as viewed inFig. 8, the cam surface on the peripheral edge of the main tumblerlifting the pin connected to the switch actuating arm out of the tumblerslots and sliding the arm 41 so that its end will force the springswitch member 28 of the signal switch into contact with its companionmember and thus restore thecircuit through the horn signal.

In order to provide against any tampering with the circuit wires leadingfrom the switch device to the horn signal or ignition coil, I haveconnected in the horn signal circuit a spring operated switch 75, said.switch being located adjacent one or both of the hood covers 76 of thevehicle, the switch being normally open. By this arrangement, if one orboth or" the hood covers are raised, the switch will. automaticallyclose the circuit leading to the signal to sound an alarm. I have alsoprovided a spring operated contact switch 74 in the signal circuit, andmounted the same ad jacent the hand brake lever 7 7 of the vehicle, sothat when the same is releasedthe spring switch will automatically closethe circuit through the signal horn to sound an alarm It will beperfectly obvious that switches may be mounted in the signal circuits atconvenient points on the vehicle, such as the doors, windows, or otherparts so that when the same are operated the circuits will be closed tosound the signal.

In the electrical diagram shown in 2, member 22 of the horn signalswitch is connected by a line wire '78 to switch '75 and ground, andalso through line wire 79' through switch 74: to ground. The otherswitch member 28 is connected by line wire 80 through signal horn 81 andline 89 to battery 83, being grounded in the usual manner; Member 31 ofignition switch 30 is connected by line wire 85 to battery 83, whilemember 33 is connected by line wire 86 through ignition coil 87 to aground.

By insulating the switching and locking mechanisms in the case 5, itwill be seen that it any attempt is made to cut the case by using a hacksaw a signal will be sounded through the horn 81, as the metallic caseis connected to the vehicle horncircuit by a line wire 88, clearly shownin Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings. Further, as the tubing which rigidlysecures the switching device on the instrument board is formed of toolsteel, it will be practically impossible to cut the same with ordinarytools inorder to gain access to the circuit wires disposed therein.

From the above it. will be noted that l have provided anextrcmelycompact switch ing device for controlling the ignition circuit of anauto vehicle, which cannot be operated without the knowledge of a secretcombination of characters, and which is so connected to audible signalsof vehicles that an alarm will be sounded on any tampering with thevehicle parts.

lVhat I claim is: v 1. A combination locking device, comprising a casinghaving a plurality of electric switches mounted therein, a plurality oftumblers mounted within said case, a revoluble stem extending into saidcase, a

switch operating arm loosely mounted on said'stem capable of bothslidingandrotary movements, and a tumbler disk having a cam edge forengaging and actuating the switch operating arm to control the openingand closing of said switches, saiddisk secured. to said stem andrevoluble therewith.

2. A combination electric switch lock, comprising a circular casing, aplurality of electric switches mounted therein, a plurality of tumblerseach having a peripheral slot mounted in said casing, a knob actuatedstem extending into said casing, a main tumbler secured to the free endof said stem and rotatable therewith, said tumbler being provided with aperipheral slot, one of the walls of said slot forming a cam edge, and aswitchactuating arm loosely mounted on said stein capable of bothsliding and rotary movement, said arm carrying a slot engaging pin,whereby the switch actuating arm will be locked against movement whenthe tum- &

bler slots are out of register or is permitted to slide and rotate tooperate the switches when the slots are in register.

3. A permutation lock comprising a casing, a turning dial having anapertured hub,

a rotary stem mounted in said hub, a plufor causin successive rotationthereof a pair of electric switches mounted in said casing, a displaeable lever supported on said stem, a pin carried by, the lever disposedfor movement into and out of regis tration with the notches of all thetumblers, said pin when in engagement With the notches adapted to openone of the switches when the main permutation disk is rotated in onedirection and to close the other of said switches, a reverse rotation ofsaid main disk due to the cam shaped Wall disengaging the pin from thedisk notches and locking the lever against movement.

4. A combination locking device, comprising a casing provided With abored hub, a pair of spring circuit switches mounted in the casing, aknob actuated stem rotatively mounted in the bore of said hub, aplurality of disk tumblers loosely mounted on said hub having peripheralslots, a main tumbler provided with a slot having a cam shaped Wallsecured to said stem and rotatable therewith, a switch closing membermounted on said stem having a pin adapted to engage the slots in saidtumblers when the slots are in register to close one of said switchesand open the other, said member being capable of both a rotary andsliding movement, whereby When the pin on the switch actuating member isrotated in a reverse direction out of disk slots due to the cam shapedWall it will be locked against movement.

5. A combination electric switch lock, comprising a casing, a pluralityof locking tumblers mounted therein, a knob actuated stem extending intosaid case, a plurality of switches mounted in said case, a main tunrbier having a peripheral cam surface rigidly secured to said stem, and aswitch actuating arm disposed on said stem adapted to be operated by themain tumbler on an actuation of the knob stem.

6. A combination switch lock comprising a meal casing, a metal enclosingcasing carrying the operating mechanisms mounted in said casing andinsulated therefrom, a pair of electric switches mounted in saidenclosing case, a knob actuated stem concentric of the casing, a maintumbler and a plurality of locking tumblers carried by the stem, saidmain tumbler provided with a cam slot in itsperiphery, a lever mountedon said stein capable of both sliding and oscillating movements, a pincarried by said lever and engaging the cam slot in the main tumbler forpressing the lever against one of the switches to close the same, andmeans formed on said enclosing case for sliding the lever against theother of said switches to close the same.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 17th day of January, 1924.

MAURICE C. LEVINSON.

